Are the Miami Heat turning into the Houston Rockets? More 3-pointers, less mid-range shots

Miami Heat guard Wayne Ellington celebrates after scoring a 3-pointer against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Over the past 10 games entering Sunday’s contest against the Pacers, Miami is averaging the fifth-most 3-point shot attempts per game with 32.5 and the 11th-fewest mid-range shot attempts per game with 16.8.

Those numbers seem to show a small shift in the Heat’s philosophy toward the direction of Houston’s “Don’t Take Long Twos” offensive strategy.

The thinking behind this philosophy is simple, why shoot a long 2-pointer when you can step back a few feet and shoot a shot that’s worth three points. Basically, Houston’s message is to shoot 3-pointers and layups.

“Nah. Nah. We’re not turning into that at all,” Heat guard Wayne Ellington said with a smile when asked if Miami is turning into Houston. “[The 3-pointers] were open. We’re taking the open ones. Guys get in that paint and spraying it to us. So, we’ve got to take them.”

This is a new offensive trend for the Heat, as they used almost the opposite strategy last season. Miami took the third-fewest 3-point shot attempts per game with 18.0 and the 10th-most mid-range shots per game with 22.6 last season.

Even Raptors coach Dwane Casey has noticed the change.

“They are an analytical dream getting to the rim or shooting the three,” Casey said of the Heat before Saturday’s game in Miami.

Furthermore, the Heat are on pace to break their single-season franchise records for most made 3-pointers (717 in 2012-13) and most 3-pointers attempted (1,865 in 1996-97). Through 66 games this season, Miami is shooting 648-of-1,768 from long range putting them on pace to finish the season 805-of-2,197.

“We’re not just coming down and jacking threes off the dribble,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of his team’s 3-point barrage. “We’re getting to something specific.”